Recievers versus separates


Although I have read seemingly thousands of articles stating that high end receivers such as the B&K 202/307 and the Denon 5800 are as "good as separates," which separates are they as good as? Can can someone compare the sound of these to an Outlaw amp, a Proceed AMP5, a Bryston 9BST, a Sunfire Cinema Grand, or any other amp in the $1000-$5000 range. Does a $3000 receiver get close enough to these to make the difference incremental, and are we just paying a higher profit margin for separates such as the ones listed above.
eyeman

Showing 1 response by mdorsam

Great Comments, it will be hard to add anything of tangible worth; but I'll try.

I have the B&K 202: it is said that B&K put in their Reference 20 pre-amp in the package, then added 5x105wpc amplification to it. It is a fine receiver, but added the B&K 250wpc monoblocks to run my B&W N802s.

Where I'm going with this, is Receivers are a compromise of some sort, to some degree. The critical flaws in all of them is upgradability: while B&K says that the machines are, the proof is not yet here; I assume the same is true for the 5800.

As I look to upgrade for the new Audio and Video streams, I'll pay extra for upgradable products: these most likely will be separates. Frankly, I can not hear the difference: an age thing.